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Lionel Messi’s next move fuels frenzy of speculation

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

PARIS (AP) — Lionel Messi’s next stop could mark his return to Barcelona. Or he could make a hugely profitable move to Saudi Arabia. Staying at Paris Saint-Germain is the most unlikely of outcomes.Increasingly fevered speculation continued to build Tuesday into where the World Cup winner from Argentina will play next season. Inter Miami in Major League Soccer is also chasing the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner.French media have reported that Messi has a verbal deal with an unnamed Saudi club, a move that would put him back into the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo. But one soccer transfer gossip specialist, Fabrizio Romano, was quick to update his 14.6 million followers on Twitter that there will be no decision until after the season.Both Barcelona and Al Hilal clearly want Messi, who turns 36 next month and also wants to keep playing for Argentina. South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup starts in September, with Argentina at home against Ecuador.Messi’s tr...

The end of an era for the Sisters of Charity of New York

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Through more than 200 years, the Sisters of Charity of New York nursed Civil War casualties, joined civil rights and anti-war demonstrations, cared for orphans, and taught countless children.They’re proud of their history of selfless service. But they can’t ignore their current reality: The congregation continues to shrink and age — and not a single new sister has joined their U.S. group in more than 20 years. After much prayer and contemplation, they made a tough decision that marked the beginning of the Catholic congregation’s end. They will no longer accept new members, and announced in an April 27 statement that they are now on a “path to completion.”Sister Margaret Egan recalled that day and the emotional silence that filled the meeting room on their leafy Bronx campus when she and the other members of the order’s executive council accepted their reality and charted a new future. Grasping a roster of every sister who had ever served the congregation,...

Dozens injured in Polish bus collision in eastern Germany

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — A highway collision between a long-distance Polish bus and a truck injured dozens of people in eastern Germany, police in Poland and German news agency dpa reported.The crash happened Tuesday on the A 12 highway in the state of Brandenburg between the towns of Storkow and Fredersdorf.German police said 35 people were hurt, including six with severe injuries, dpa said. Three helicopters, ambulances and police officers were on the scene, and the section of highway was closed. Police said the truck, which was traveling in the direction of Berlin, collided with the side of the bus when it tried to change lanes. Polish police confirmed on Twitter that a bus from Poland was involved in a crash in Germany and that many people were injured. Polish police personnel were deployed to the scene to aid the injured. The Associated Press

MP Charlie Angus, poet Cliff Cardinal among Trillium Book Award nominees

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

TORONTO — A member of Parliament and a celebrated playwright are among the nominees for the Trillium Book Award, Ontario’s top literary prize.Charlie Angus, who represents Timmins – James Bay in the House of Commons, is nominated for “Cobalt: Cradle of the Demon Metals, Birth of a Mining Superpower,” while poet and performer Cliff Cardinal made the list with “William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, A Radical Retelling.”Also in contention for the $20,000 award are Kathy Friedman for “All the Shining People: Stories,” Emma Healey for “Best Young Woman Job Book: A Memoir” and Stuart Ross for “The Book of Grief and Hamburgers.”The nominees for the $10,000 Trillium Book Award for Poetry are Madhur Anand for “Parasitic Oscillations”, Laurie D. Graham for “Fast Commute” and Sanna Wani for “My Grief, the Sun.”The French-language finalists for the Trillium Book Award are Andrée Lac...

EU takes aim at countries helping Russia to avoid sanctions

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

Brussels (AP) — A top European Union official on Tuesday urged the 27 member nations to take trade measures against countries that help the Kremlin to circumvent the bloc’s sanctions against Russia. During a visit to Kyiv, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the measures – which would set a new precedent for EU action – should be part of a fresh round of Russia sanctions which the member countries are discussing.“We recently see a growth of highly unusual trade flows through the European Union and certain third countries. These goods then end up in Russia,” von der Leyen said, standing alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.She did not name the countries, but EU officials have raised concerns about certain flows of goods through China and Iran for some time.“If we see that goods are going from the European Union to third countries and then end up in Russia, we could propose to the member states to sanction those goods,” von der Leyen told r...

Top Spanish court considers far-right challenge to LGBT law

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Spain’s Constitutional Court said Tuesday it would consider a legal challenge lodged by the far-right Vox party against a new law extending rights for transgender teenagers and encouraging tolerance for sexual diversity in schools.The wide-ranging LGBT rights law passed in February allows any Spanish citizen over 16 years to change their legally registered gender without medical supervision. Minors aged 12-13 still need a judge’s authorization, while those between 14 and 16 must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. Previously, transgender people needed a diagnosis by several doctors of gender dysphoria.The Constitutional Court issued a statement confirming it had considered a legal brief lodged by Vox lawmakers and would analyze alleged violations of parental rights, the right to religious expression, freedom of speech and equality of all citizens before the law.Vox said the recent legislation, which was promoted by the far-left United We Can party...

Louisiana man accused of shooting girl playing hide and seek in head

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

STARKS, La. (AP) — A Louisiana man has been charged with aggravated assault and battery after shooting at children who had been playing hide and seek outside his home, striking a 14-year-old girl, officials said.The girl suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head early Sunday, and was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a statement posted on social media Monday.Investigators learned that several children were playing hide and seek in the Starks neighborhood and were hiding on the neighbor’s property. Family loses toy elephant with son’s ashes during Disney World vacation David Doyle, 58, told detectives that he got his gun when he saw shadows outside his home and shot at people he saw running away, unknowingly hitting the girl, officials said.It's the latest in a series of recent shootings sparked by seemingly trivial circumstances.Doyle was arrested and charged with aggra...

Walt Disney World making changes to reservation system, bringing back dining plans next year

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Walt Disney World announced Monday that it is making changes to its reservation system and bringing back dining plans next year.Guests who purchase a date-based ticket will no longer have to make a reservation starting Jan. 9, 2024. Family loses toy elephant with son’s ashes during Disney World vacation Next year, the theme park will offer "good-to-go days" for annual passholders and cast members. Both groups will be able to visit the park on select days without needing a park reservation.Currently, annual passholders do not need to have a reservation if they visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom.The theme park also released good news for those interested in the park's dining plan. Guests who purchase a vacation package will be able to add the dining package to their reservation starting Jan. 9, 2024.Disney said guests will be able to choose from two options: Disney Quick Service Dining Plan or the Disney Dining P...

A special day for one Cubs fan at Wrigley Field

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

CHICAGO — One of the best moments at Wrigley Field this past weekend didn't happen between the lines. Instead, it featured a unique opportunity for a cancer survivor ahead of the Cubs' series against the Marlins. As part of an Advocate Health Care program, ten-year-old Flynn McGuire from Yorkville got to have a unique moment at the Friendly Confines on Friday as he was the honorary bat kid for the afternoon. He's a patient of Advocate Health since having to undergo a craniotomy to remove a large brain tumor on September 25, 2013, just after his first birthday. Since then, he's recovered well and goes in for occasional surveillance imaging. During his day at Wrigley Field, McGuire was joined by his family on the field for an opportunity to visit the Cubs' dugout and meet a few of the players. Given his own No. 23 jersey, Flynn was also featured on the videoboard along with a segment on the game broadcast. Larry Hawley featured McGuire in this edition of the "Random Hawlight" on WGN N...

LIVE: Daniel Perry to be sentenced for murder in 2020 shooting at downtown Austin protest

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 18:34:15 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Daniel Perry, who was convicted last month of murdering Garrett Foster during a Black Lives Matter protest in downtown Austin in 2020, is set to be sentenced Tuesday at 9 a.m. Daniel Perry found guilty of murder in protester’s death During Perry's trial, a jury was presented evidence including police body camera footage after the incident, interview footage of Perry in the Austin Police Headquarters interrogation room, 3D renderings of how close Foster was to Perry’s car, 911 calls, cell phone records, witness video, photos and more.Over the span of eight days, the jury heard testimony from nearly 40 witnesses: Protesters, Foster’s fiancé, police officers, and the lead detective who investigated the case.After deliberating for around 15 hours, a group of 12 jurors found Perry guilty of murder on April 8. Perry was found not guilty for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.A day after Perry’s conviction, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for his pardon, saying in a&...